Wrench



Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,576

w. l.. BEssoLo WRENCH liled July 9. 192s WMM Patten-ted Dec. 6, 1927,Y

UNITEDy STATES*v WILLIAM L. BnssoLo, F CLEARWATER, CALIFORNIA. Y

wennen.

. Application filed .Tuly 9, 1923. Serial No. 650,274.

This invention has to ldo with'a wrench adapted to handle pipes, tubings, etc., and it is an object of the invention to provide a simple, eective, improved toolk of this general character. f

It is an object of thisinvention to provide an improved and practical means for automatically releasably connecting the t outer end of the flexible jaw of a wrench w with the operating lever upon the jaw being arranged in operating position around the pipe, or the like. y o

It is another object of this invention to provide a wrench construction in which the mechanism carried by-the lever for releas` ably connecting the flexible `jaw with the lever is protected so that itcannot become broken or damaged with ordinary use of the tool. Anotherl object of this invention is kto provide means for connectingthe outer end of the flexible jawv with the lever so that force applied through the4 lever is transmitted to the outer end of the jawin a' direct and particularly effective manner and without passing through a pivotal connection. v

The various objects and features of my invention will bebe'st and morel .fully understood from the following detailed description of a typicaly 'preferred form of the in vention, throughout which. description ref erence is hadto the accompanying drawings, in which: y

Fig. 1 is a view'showing my improved wrench iny operating position on a pipe; Fig.'2 is a View similarto Fig. 1, showing the wrench with4 aside plate removed, `and showing the wrench released ready to be removed from the pipe, and

` Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional, view, Ytaken as indicated by the line 3-3 on Fig. 1. n My improved wrench includes, generally, a lever 10, a flexible jawll, means 12 perflexible aw 11 with the lever, and means 13 for releasably connecting the outer end of manently connecting the inner end of, .they

The flexible jaw 11, which I have illustrated in the drawings, is in the form of a cham including a plurality of links 16 connected by pintle pins 17. In accordance with the broader aspects of my present invention, the jaw 11 may be constructed in various manners, so long as it has the desired flexibility, and gripping action.

The means '12 provid'edfor connecting the inner end of the flexible aw 11 with the head `15`of t-he lever 10, includes cheek or side plates 18, a pivot pin 19 connecting the inner endV of thejaw with the side plates, andY a pivot pin 2O connecting the side plates with the head 15. The side plates 18 are arranged .atV opposite sides of the head 15,

and are' pivotally connected with the head 15 by the pin 20'so that they have parts 21'pro*` lecting'outwardly from the head. The link t 16', at the inner lend of the flexible jaw 11, is arrangedbetween the projecting parts 21, and is connected with the projecting parts by the pivot pin 19.` They means 13 includes, generally, an arcujate j aw 22 pivotally connected with the outer cooperate with the teeth 24W/of the jaw 22 Y `upon the` jaw being arranged in operating position between the'pipe P and the head 15, substantially as I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. In accordance with my' present invention the catch 24 is mounted on a stem 27 slidably carried in an opening 28 formed through the head 15 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle-14. The rstem'27 projects out- Inc wardly from the outer part of the head 15.., t

and carries the catch 24 soV that it is spaced fromthe outer part of the head. A helical spring 29 is carried o n the stem 27 between the catch 24 and head-15 so that it normally yieldingly holds the catch 24out or away t from the head 15.' The inner end of the stem 27 projects from the inner part of the vhead 15 at the side of the handle`14v and carries an operating handle or knob 30. The lr-nob'engages the head to limit the outwardv movement of the stein and catch and is tion for operation and that it does not project or protrude in `a manner to he nnsig itly orin any way inconvenient.

. In accordance with niy present `invention the headll has a part `3Q whlchextende or projlets` ontwardly frein the `inziin part ot the headlljeside the catch 2l eothnt the eutch y lniseliding"engagement with it and eo that it operates to Support or hack np the catch to relieve the stein 2T `whenthe tool ie operiitelh es hereinafter described. The part 32 is preferably iliade colnparal'ively heavy so that it strong;` and rigid.` l4`nrther, in aeoordanco `with `my present invonlion.y` l ineke the eide plates 18 comparativelywide oppo site or attire nieansll So that they eoinpletely cover and prole he ealeh part 2l, and torni a housing' or guide lor the jaw` :it the catch E24. y v i I provide a gripping; plate or jaw l0 hetween the projecting` parte Q1 ot the side plates 1S. "lhe jaw Llfllhaea lug part that isearried hy the pivot pin 19. The edge or side portions of the jaw Lllllare enpported in seats `or recesses 43, provided lin the project/inn parte il, so that the lace olfthe jawis inpoeition to engage and grip the pipe when the tool is opefeted. The jaw Alll is more tally described and Claimed in niy eopending application entitled .Toole, .tiled immun le; 192e. Seri-.11 No. cerner.

n l l l i From thefilorogoing deeeription itvvill he apparent that the springl) vnornnilly holde` thefeateh Eil ont in` the position shown in .Fig l. To apply the wrench the tleiihle jaw 11 is arrangedaround the pipe P, or other object to heopernted, and the yew 22 1s arranged between thesaid plates 18 and he "tween the `pipe P `and catch 24p AS the jaw 22 isarinnged` in` position the `teeth Ql pass over the teeth 2G and, `as vthe partszipprl'inehfthe poeition where they are tight, the catch 2,4: is depressed `to allowthe teeth 24 When the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. `l the tool in position ready ,tor operation.` To operate the tool so that itlggrips and turns the pipe P thehandlell is swungl` in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Fig. l, eo thet the head ltnrns relative to theplateel in the directionindicated hy the arrow B 1n Fig. `l,` thereby causing the catch 24, whieh has; grippingengagement witlrthe Jaw Q2 through ,the teeth 26 und 2li, to niove or urge thejaw +22 toward thejinner endl ot the `flexible jaw 11. lhenthe `tlexihle jaw hns heen made tight on the pipe` `further lnovonlentiot the handleM will cause tornino; ol the pipe. 3 Then itis desired to releaee the tool the handle 3() isoperated eo thatthe catch Ql is withdrawn from the jaw QQ, al-

lowing the jaw to `he witlidrawn from" position between the catch and pipe and the flexible jaw ll to he .freely opened.

Having` described onlya typical preferred torni of my invention I donot wish to liinit niyeelf to the Specitie details hereinabove eet forth but wish to reserve to inysel' any ehang'ee or variations that may appear to thor-te Ldrilled in the art or fall within the scope o'l' the lfollowinn clainle.`

llaving de lied my invei'ition, l1 clhiin l. A wreneh including, a loyer inehliling' a handle and a head at one end ol the handle, a llexihle jaw having one endeecnred to the lever, nndnieane tor rele hlyoperatively conneelii the other end l lie jaw `vvitlrthe lever including, a Stein ehdnhly carried liy the head so that it with tliehendle olE the lever, a' milch rheinn her lined on the outer endy of the etcnna spring arranged hetween tlioczttcli nlenlher :1nd head 'to normally yieldingly hold the it ehhelantially parallel i. r i. :itivelv engage lhe linwV :1nd `an operating handle `:tor the .Stein inonn'lied onthe inner i end ofthe stein. i i l y i A wrench n'lelndniglr a lever includingi e handlennd a head at oneend of the handie, a 'flexible prw haylngone end secured to lhe lever. and lneane for rel bly opera tively connecting thelother end of tliejziw with the lever including, aeteln slidably `ca`1lried hy the head So that it ie .enhetantially parallel with the lendle ofthe lever, a @etch rnen'iher liXed on the outer end of the stein, a,

springI `arranged between the catch member" l he other end oil" the handle with thelever` llo including,` a etenil slid-ably carried iI1"said opening, a catch lneinher lixed'onthe stein at the outer part of thehend, a springr ca`r` ried on the stein between the head; and Said inelnher to normally yieldingly hold the ineniher ont to directly cooperatively engage the jaw,l and an operatingr handle inonnted on the inner end ol the ete/ni. y i

5l. A wreneh inchidinnfgn leverl i1`1clt1dinfb n handle and a headat one end oilitliefhandie, the head having' an opening `throng'h it snhnntially parallel withl thehandle, :t

flexible jaw having` oneend secured to the y lever, ineens `lor releasahly operatively con nettingl the other end ot the liandlewith the lever including, a stem slidably carried in said opening, a catch member iixed Aon the stem at the outer part of the head, a `spring vcarried on the stem between the head and said member to normally yieldingly hold the member out to directly cooperatively engage the jaw, and an operating handle mounted on the inner endV of the stem at the handle of the lever, and a projection on the head directly engaging the catch member n on the other end of the chain, the jaw having teeth at its outer edge, a stem slidably carried inA said opening, a catch member liXed von the stem at thcouter part of the head and adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the to releasably operatively connect the jaw with the head, a springen the stein between the head and said member to normally yieldingly hold the member out in position to directly cooperate with the teeth, a handle on the inner end of the stem at the handle of the lever, and a part projecting outwardly from the head at the side of said member to directly engage and brace said member.

6. A wrench including, a lever, a flexible jaw having one end secured to the lever, and

means for releasably operatively connecting the other end of the jaw with the lever enibodyinga stem slidably carried by the lever, a catch member fixed on the stem, means normally yieldingly holding the catch member in position to directly co-operatively engage the jaw, and a handle connected with the stem for operating the stem Vto move the catch member out of Said position.

7. A wrench including, a lever including Va handle and a head at one end of the handle, a iiexible jaw having one end Secured to the lever, andl means for releasably operatively connecting the other end ot the jaw with the lever including, a stem, a catch member linedy on the stem, means normally yieldingly holding the catch member in position to Ydirectly cooperatively engage the jaw, and anV operating handle for the stem located at the handle ot' the lever.

In witness that I claimthe foregoing I Vhave hereunto subscribed: my name this 29th day ot' June, 1928.

l 'WILLIAM L. BEeSoLo. 

